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Monk pigeons got their name because of their unusual color and crest in the form of a hood, reminiscent of the robes of monks. In addition, during flight they move away from their flock and prefer to fly alone. Often these pigeons are called cross pigeons, since during the flight of the bird the tail and wings form a cross.
History of the breed
Monk pigeons first appeared in Germany in the 17th century. They were bred by German pigeon breeders as a breed of racing pigeons. They had to participate in the hunt, driving hidden birds out of the foliage. Pigeons quickly gained popularity in Europe, and at the beginning of the 19th century they were appreciated by Russian breeders.
Flight characteristics
They are very emotional birds, their flight properties are well developed. It is interesting to watch how the flock flies through the treetops. Pigeon Monks require constant training. Then they are able to stay in the air for several hours. They do not fly at high altitudes, but in flight they move quickly and maneuverably. Circular flight type.
Monk cross pigeons are beautiful in flight.
Breed characteristics and standards
The main distinguishing feature of the German monk cross pigeon is its snow-white body and a kind of cap on its head. The color of the bird's plumage is cross-shaped.
Appearance of the bird:
- presence of a ridge;
- on the back of the head there is a white tuft-hood;
- body length of the pigeon is 36 cm;
- the neck is short;
- the body of the pigeon is slightly tilted forward;
- physique of regular elongated shape, proportional;
- a small cere that fits tightly;
- the beak is small, neat, pointed, up to 16 mm;
- the chest is wide, reaching 24 cm in girth;
- the wings are long and do not protrude beyond the tail;
- the back smoothly transitions into the tail section, consisting of 12 tail feathers;
- the legs are short and pink.
The character traits of the German Cross Pigeon are friendliness, trustfulness and devotion towards humans. Very good parents. The female pigeon is capable of carefully incubating even other people's chicks, which breeders actively use.
Signs indicating lack of purebred:
- dark claws;
- short wings;
- somewhat sunken breast;
- beak less than 15 mm in size;
- legs too short;
- wide tail with light feathers.
There is also a more critical list of defects for culling pigeons: white tail, lack of crest, feathering on the legs, white stripes on the head, large beak, red or yellow eyes.
Varieties
There are several main varieties of the Monk pigeon: German, Moscow, Altai.There are also breeds developed through crossbreeding. This is how pigeons appeared: the South German breed (there are space-footed and bare-footed species), Saxon (striped, blue-lace pigeon), Ural, Tula.
German
There is no exact information about the receipt of the German pigeon Monk. They are considered more of an ornamental species of pigeon than a flying one. Main characteristics of the species:
- pigeon feathers can be black, gray, beige with a caramel tint, gray, red;
- white hood;
- the beak is small, pointed (black in birds with dark plumage, light shades in bright birds);
- there are white feathers on the body;
- the shade of the feathers on the tail and head is brown (can be colored);
- The pigeon's body length reaches 35 cm;
- chest circumference 25 cm;
- the iris of the eye is light;
- the tail part is dense, medium in length.
They have average flight qualities, but the flight is quite spectacular and swift.
Moscow
The breed originated from the mating of Polish tumblers with rutting species of pigeons in the 20th century in Warsaw. The Moscow pigeon Monk is very similar in appearance to the German one, but there are significant differences:
- the feathers on the head and tip of the tail are dark shades, blue, yellow and red tones are also found;
- the crest is somewhat disheveled;
- feathers on the forehead and under the eyes of different shades.
The color of the beak directly depends on the shade of the feathers on the cap. According to the observations of breeders, the temperament of this type of pigeon is more pugnacious.
Altaic
It has another name - Barnaul lop-winged (big-headed). Obtained as a result of selection work on the Ural Monks. Pigeons are endowed with greater elegance than their ancestors. The species is classified as an ornamental breed.
It differs from the German and Moscow Monk in the color of the plumage on the head (it can be brown, beige, brick), the paws of the Altai Monk are slightly lowered.
Breeding monk cross pigeons
Monk pigeons have a fairly developed parental instinct. Under the right conditions and balanced feeding, they can produce 3-4 broods of chicks per season. In the dovecote it is necessary to install several rounded perches so that the legs do not become deformed. There should also be nesting boxes in the dovecote. The breeding season is between March and April. Pigeons form pairs based on their temperament - they look for similar characters. In nature, pairs form independently; in captivity, they are formed by a breeder. But such partners take worse care of each other.
The clutch is incubated for no more than 19 days. They do this according to a schedule: the male during the day from 10 to 16 hours, the female the rest of the time. Feeding with goiter milk occurs for about 20 days. They reproduce up to 10 years of age, but the best offspring are produced at 3-5 years of age.
Feeding
The diet must contain proteins for growth and development, fats as a supply of nutrients, and carbohydrates for the bird’s energy. Feed mixtures should consist of:
- oats, barley (they contain fiber);
- corn (energy source);
- lentils (contains vegetable proteins);
- millet (large amount of vitamins);
- hemp, flax (amino acids).
It is also mandatory to add green food, chalk, shells, and pebbles. After goiter milk, the chicks are given wheat soaked in water into their diet.
Care and maintenance of monk pigeons
Pigeons of this species are not picky about their diet and have good resistance to infections.They are very clean, but pigeon breeders need to regularly clean the premises, disinfect them once a month, change and clean feeders and drinkers every day.
For preventative purposes, pigeons should be examined for any signs of disease. For prevention, pigeon breeders feed their birds a solution of potassium permanganate and also administer vaccines. The causes of diseases in pigeons are varied. These include improper living conditions, care, vitamin deficiency, and infection from other pigeons.
The appearance of a sick individual immediately arouses suspicion: the bird is hiding, feathers are ruffled, eyes are closed, breathing is rapid. At the same time, the pigeon refuses food, water, and flying. If signs of disease are detected, the bird should be removed from the rest in a separate room.
Arranging a dovecote
Cross Monks are the calmest and friendliest among other pigeon species. Difficulties with breeding may arise due to non-compliance with basic conditions for caring for them. If you have a properly equipped dovecote, a balanced diet, and timely care, you can breed pigeons without effort.
Experienced breeders recommend setting up a spacious dovecote with a separate place for each pigeon. It is better not to place bars inside the dovecote - the birds should have freedom of movement. In winter, the temperature in the dovecote should not fall below 10 degrees. It is recommended to install additional lighting sources to extend daylight hours. In summer, during the heat, the dovecote must be shaded and do not forget about installing bird baths.
The pigeon room should be made of wood or brick. It is better to make the entrance directed to the south or southeast; windows for the flight of pigeons up to 20 cm wide are also needed.For some purebred pigeons, whose walking is controlled by the owner, it is necessary to equip an enclosure for walking so that they can walk independently in the fresh air.
Conclusion
Monk pigeons have a long history of development, so this has affected the breed - it is almost impossible to find purebred Monks today. Now they belong to representatives of decorative breeds, although many years ago they were bred as racing pigeons.
